Solheim Cup isn't best golf in the world, just look at who's absent

If you’re planning to settle in over the next three days to watch the Solheim Cup, one of the most intriguing events on the 2017 golf calendar, you’re going to be in very good company.

Twelve of the top 15 golfers in the current women’s world rankings will be watching right along with you.

Why aren’t they playing? They are ineligible because they are neither from the United States nor Europe.

Eight are from South Korea; one each is from Thailand, New Zealand, China and Canada. The only top-ranked golfers who will be participating in the Ryder Cup-style event in Des Moines are American Lexi Thompson (ranked No. 2), Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist (13) and American Cristie Kerr (14).

That’s it. Otherwise, the vast majority of the very best golfers in the world are not allowed to participate in what arguably is the most compelling competition in women’s golf — which means it’s time to make some changes to the Solheim Cup or start a Presidents Cup-style event for the women.

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While the Americans and Europeans had to dig deep into the world rankings to fill their 12-player rosters (to 112th for the U.S. with Paula Creamer, and 120th for Europe with Emily Kristine Pedersen), consider this:

You could fill an entire 12-woman team solely of South Koreans without having to go past the 28th spot in the world rankings. And, to fill a second team of 12 South Koreans, you would need only drop to the 52nd spot.

So you could play the South Korea A team vs. the South Korea B team with better world rankings than you’ll see from the Americans and Europeans in Iowa over the next few days.

The Solheim Cup was started in 1990 to give women golfers a chance to compete in an event like the men’s Ryder Cup. It was a grand idea then, and it’s still terrific. The rivalries have flourished over time, turning the competition into wonderful theater.

But it’s just silly to continue to deceive ourselves that it’s the best the women’s game can give us. It’s not. It’s missing way too many of the best players in the world.

There will be many who don’t care, who say keep it as it is. After all, it doesn’t sell itself as the best, just as a competition between two old rivals.

But if you want to actually see the top players in the game, here’s an idea: next time, rotate a team from Asia and the Pacific Rim into the event, replacing Europe. (I know. I know. My heritage is Swedish, German and Irish. I can hear the complaints already.)

But can you imagine the drama if the underdog Americans defeated an Asian team dominated by the great South Koreans? How much fun would that be?

Or maybe the Asians pour it on and display just how powerful they are? Isn’t that what sports is all about, seeing and appreciating the best?

You also could replace the Americans, especially if they don’t win this weekend, and have Europe host Asia in two years, but with U.S. television and the U.S.-based LPGA so invested in the event, that’s just not going to happen.

If you don’t like that idea, then create a true Presidents Cup-style event for the women. In 2014, the powers that be in women’s golf started an event called the International Crown, bringing four-player teams from eight nations together in match-play competition. This is fine, but it in no way resembles the men’s Presidents Cup, and it diminishes the tremendous impact that Asian golfers are having on the women’s game.

And if someone contends there’s not enough corporate interest in women’s golf to pull that off, just knock on the door of some South Korean companies and see what they say.

In the meantime, here’s hoping you enjoy the Solheim Cup this week. Revel in the drama and the rivalries. But let’s not kid ourselves. It’s definitely not all that it could be.